Email

Children's National Health System's Hand Program utilizes a team approach to treatingand correcting pediatric hand ailments. The team consists of pediatric experts in hand surgery,orthopaedic surgery, anesthesiology, plastic surgery, and occupational therapy to providecomprehensive care to patients and families.

More than 3,000 pediatric and upper extremity patients are treated each year at the Hand Program.The Hand Program combines the skills and expertise of Children's Orthopaedic Surgery andSports Medicine with subspecialty-trained pediatric hand surgeons.The two dedicated pediatric hand surgery specialists, Emily A. Hattwick, MD, and Robert H. Wilson,MD, have more than 20 years of experience combined. They participate in national and international programsfocused on pediatric hand surgery and are part of a global effort to improve the understanding ofpediatric hand and upper extremity disorders.

The team works closely with other team members including our dedicated pediatric plastic surgeons,the Cerebral Palsy Clinic, and the Brachial Plexus Palsy Clinic. These multidisciplinary clinics bring the pediatric handsurgeons together with other specialists in pediatric orthopedics, physical medicine, neurosurgery,prosthetics, and occupational therapy. In order to ensure the best outcomes, the Hand Program teamjoins with other specialists, families, and patient to understand the plan and follow through to thebest functional result.

Conditions treated include:

Constriction ring syndrome/amniotic band syndrome

Radius deficiency

Ulnar deficiency

Central deficiency/cleft hand

Transverse failure of formation

Congenital dislocation of the radial head

Congenital radio-ulnar synostosis

Syndactyly

Thumb polydactyly/ finger polydactyly

Thumb deficiency/hypoplasia

Trigger thumb

Finger hypoplasia

Camptodactyly

Clinodactyly

Macrodactyly- hand and foot

Post-traumatic Elbow reconstruction

Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy

Neuromuscular Upper Extremity Contractures

Madelung's Deformity

Pediatric Hand fractures and soft tissue injuries

The Hand Program team is committed to ongoing research as they measure treatment outcomes of upperextremities in cerebral palsy patients. Researchers are also working with the National Institutesof Health's (NIH) Department of Genetics looking at the outcomes of surgical treatment of handand wrist deformities in Proteus patients. Research efforts are coordinated with NIH for certainrare diagnoses. Additionally, Drs. Hattwick and Wilson participate in educating residents atGeorgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, and Walter Reed OrthopedicResidency programs about pediatric hand and upper extremity surgery.